Dr. Patricia Ramsey is not one to accept "no" for an answer when advocating for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).
The Norfolk State University alumna serves as president of Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, a federally designated Predominantly Black Institution. PBIs are a group of colleges and universities not originally founded as HBCUs and enroll a high percentage of Black students and serve significant numbers of low-income and first-generation students.
As a national advocate for minority-serving institutions, Ramsey regularly engages with policymakers and elected officials, persistently pressing for increased support and resources for the students and communities these institutions serve.
Ramsey, who delivered the keynote address at Norfolk State University's Founders Day Breakfast, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor in 2021 during her first year as president of Medgar Evers College. Speaking on behalf of PBIs, she advocated for increased federal funding and policies that better reflect the contributions and outcomes of institutions educating historically underserved populations.
Under Ramsey's leadership, Medgar Evers College has expanded its academic offerings by launching new degree programs in Community Health Education, Criminal Justice, Nursing, and African Diaspora Literature, along with a minor in Cannabis Education. "Medgar Evers College was established for the same reasons that Norfolk State was established," Ramsey said. "It was created to provide educational opportunities within the Black community."
However, Ramsey noted that because Medgar Evers College was founded after 1964, it and other PBIs face unique challenges in securing federal support. She explained that recent funding decisions have affected minority-serving institutions nationwide.
"HBCUs and PBIs have been historically underfunded," Ramsey said. She argues that traditional measures of institutional success, such as graduation and retention rates, often fail to capture the realities facing many students at minority-serving institutions.
Many students enrolled at HBCUs and PBIs balance academics with work, family responsibilities, and other life circumstances. As a result, comparisons based solely on conventional metrics can create an incomplete picture of institutional effectiveness. Ramsey is working to change how student success is defined and measured because she understands firsthand the transformative power of an HBCU education.
A native of Surry County, Virginia, Ramsey credits Norfolk State with laying the foundation for a distinguished academic and professional career. After earning her degree from Norfolk State, she went on to earn additional degrees from Howard University, Georgetown University, and Harvard University. Norfolk State also provided her first leadership role in higher education, serving as associate vice president.
Ramsey concluded by reflecting on the legacy of civil rights leader Medgar Evers,
for whom her institution is named."Medgar Evers died fighting for the right of people to vote," she said, adding that by exercising that right, we can continue to push for change in education and create opportunities for future generations.